Featured Poem Feb 2014 - 'Teachers' by Terry Caffrey

'Teachers'

You see the Teachers
They rule the classroom
And in a classroom then the teacher's word is law
They give us homework
I get it all wrong - and
Then I'm standing in the corner near the door.

(CHORUS
I fainted, I panicked, my clothes were far too tight
I wobbled, I waivered
I gave the kids a fright
I went to pieces
At St. Teresa's
But then a dinner lady
Brought me back to life.)

You see the teachers are always shouting
And all that shouting doesn't get them anywhere
It hurts their voices
They wag their fingers
Stamp their feet and end up pulling out their hair.

CHORUS

You see Teachers they take the lessons
They teach us maths and art and english all the day
Say "get your books out"
Sit up and listen
But we're just kids and all we wanna do is play.

CHORUS

Tom cats and meeces
Some sheep wear fleeces
And it's so hard to balance peas upon your knife
Some chimpanzeezers
and cockney geezers
have took a dinner lady
home to meet the wife.

CHORUS

I fainted, I panicked
I kissed the cat goodnight
I tumbled, I bumbled
The dog put out the light.
I went to pieces
at St. Tereas's
But then a dinner lady
brought me back to life.

© Terry Caffrey 2014
Please do not use without the poet’s permission.

 

For further information about Terry and his work please visit Terry's page here.

 

 

 

Featured Poem for April 2013 - 'I Am' by Terry Caffrey

('I Am' is an award-winning poem as voted by children in care in the North West of England)

I am the child  -  I am a product of what you make me.

I am like broken biscuits at the bottom of a tin

The squeezed-out teabag thrown into the bin

The leftovers on your plate

The dirt under your fingernails 'cos your giros arrived late

I am the knot in your lace

The hand that slaps the face

I am the pudding in your kicking boots

The turnip pulled out by its roots

The shredder for your cheese

A victim you hurt and tease

I am a child, I am a product of what you make me

I am the worked-out homework ripped to tatters

The staring child whose jaw bone shatters

I am the pancake tossed up to the ceiling

The whisky breath that acts without feeling

I am the lager in your belly, the cocaine in your snort

The filthy dirty bed, the child the world forgot

I am the bad Santa in December

Have more uncles than can remember

I am a child, a product of your swearing and cigarette smoke

Bullied into a corner, beaten senseless for a joke

I am a child unwanted and abused -

Hungry to be loved but left alone and confused

So small I can't reach the light switch,

In the dark, the door handle above my head

Fear behind my eyes and I'm wishing I was dead

I am a child, I am a product of what you make me.

© Terry Caffrey 2013
Please do not use without the poet’s permission.

For further information about Terry Caffrey and his work please visit Terry's page here.

Current Tours with Book a Poet

• The Isle of Wight: The prize-winning children’s poet, James Carter, will be touring schools in the Isle of Wight from the 17th - 20th September. James is available for full days with KS1, KS2 and pupils from Year 7. He also runs Gifted & Talented days, as well as INSET poetry days for primary teachers (half and full days available). A full day is £500.

• Somerset:  From 26th to the 30th November, the talented and creative poet Terry Caffrey, is on his ‘Food for Thought’ tour. With emphasis on fun, Terry facilitates workshops for all ages and abilities – with over 3,500 school visits under his belt, Terry is a firm favourite across the UK. He can offer workshops for KS1, KS2, KS3, Special Schools, G&T plus INSET days for teachers. With Somerset’s economy centred around agriculture and food production, plus its historical sites this makes great inspiration for writing poetry! A full day with Terry is £550.

• Oxford: In Spring 2013 poet and children’s author Kenneth Steven will be visiting schools in and around Oxford. Dates TBC – contact us now and we’ll email you with all the information as soon as it becomes available. A full day with Kenneth is £360, half days are £250 and 90 minute sessions are £180. As Kenneth is based in Scotland his visits to England sell out quickly, so do get in touch as soon as you can.

• South Wales: James Carter and his guitar (called Keith) are available for workshops for KS1, KS2 and Year 7 for a handful of dates throughout June and July. Contact us for further information.

Other Workshops Planned

• Drama & Poetry Workshops: the talented poet, Victor Richards, is running workshops throughout Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire. His unique method means children don’t have to use pen and paper; they can create their own poems, practice, memorise and perform it all at the same time! Half day workshop is £150, full days £250 per class (plus travel). Get in touch to book now to book a class for your school!

Further tour information for Roger Stevens and Mixy will follow shortly.

Visit our home page at www.bookapoet.co.uk to download further tour information or drop us an email at info@bookapoet.co.uk.